Start a Creche from Home?

In the first instance, it would be advisable to obtain a copy of the National Standards for crèche's, as they outline all the minimum standards you have to meet. The 14 areas they cover are:

• Suitable persons to run crèche's.
• Organisation.
• Care, learning and play.
• Physical environment.
• Equipment.
• Safety.
• Health.
• Food and drink.
• Equal opportunities.
• Special needs.
• Behaviour.
• Working in partnership with parents and carers.
• Child protection.
• Documentation.

If you want to look after babies and children under the age of two years old, there are also additional criteria that need to be met. You can obtain a copy of the crèche National Standards by calling the Department for Education (DfE) Publications line on Tel: 0845 602 2260. Alternatively, you can download a .pdf copy here - the current government childcare guidance website To find out more information about registering with Ofsted, you can contact their helpline on Tel: 0300 123 1231 (https://www.ofsted.gov.uk/).

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Your local Children’s Information Service (CIS) are a good port of call to speak to regarding any funding opportunities that you could apply for in your local area. You can find the contact details of your local CIS by contacting your local authority's family information service.

Your CIS will also be able to advice on whether there’s a particular need for another childcare service in your area. Although most areas will benefit from having an additional childcare provider, it’s always extra useful to know if it’s particularly wanted in your local area and could be a point you could emphasise when applying for funding. The CIS can also put you in touch with the local early years partnerships, as they may be another useful source of information and insight into local childcare services and needs.

A useful guide to funding opportunities is available from the DfE. Entitled, “The A-Z to Finding Funds – Directory of Funding for Early Years Education and Childcare,” it can be obtained by contacting the DfE.

It’s good to hear that you’re both working towards your NVQ Level 2 at the moment. However, anyone in charge of a childcare service has to have a Level 3 qualification (NVQ 3 or equivalent) or be a qualified teacher with experience in early years. In order to meet the National Standards, one of you needs to be trained to Level 3 and therefore be in charge, or you need to be prepared to employ a manager who has those qualifications (although this can, of course, be more of an expensive way around it).

I hope this gives you a good starting point to get going with. Good luck with your plans!

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